Across much of the western U.S., increasing drought conditions are making it difficult for big game to migrate freely. Challenges arise when conditions change across historically used ranges and limit access to high-quality forage, no longer allowing optimal nutritional and population health. Decreased forage negatively impacts the survival of young and old animals. Research points to an increase in temperatures and a decrease in snowpack, which is disruptive to ungulate populations and other wildlife, causing reduced forage availability due to shorter growing seasons.
Currently, state and federal agencies lack tools that link drought conditions to ungulate populations’ ability to thrive. As a result, harvest, habitat and conservation decisions are often reactive and delayed.
Now, an RMEF-led research project centered on drought conditions seeks to fill that gap by providing specific tools to anticipate drought-related population risk, before declines occur. Conducted through close collaboration with state wildlife agencies and academic partners, the research project will study the impacts of drought in the southwestern U.S., specifically New Mexico and Arizona, across multiple years.
Working toward the goal of better understanding drought-influenced trends, their effects and resultant ways to address them, the project will identify migration data, determine drought-affected forage thresholds and provide managers with science-based indicators for adaptive antlerless harvest and decisions around habitat.
Without research focused on drought, agencies will continue to experience a lack of early-warning indicators of risk. RMEF is leading the way in several areas of drought-related research and response, including:
- Migration corridor conservation
- Habitat stewardship ($660,000+ RMEF investments in forage and water restoration in the region)
- GPS collars for this project ($80,000+ RMEF funds)